People demand action on crime after Miss Venezuela shooting

Euronews

The murder of former Miss Venezuela Monica Spear and her British ex-husband by the side of the road when their car broke down has shocked Venezuela, and brought people out on to the streets.

People were already unhappy at Venezuela’s soaring violent crime rate. The country has one of the world’s worst homicide rates.

The couple’s five -year-old daughter was shot but survived what appeared to be a robbery gone wrong.

“We’ve had enough of going onto the street in fear of your life, of knowing that our neighbour was killed, our cousin was killed, a friend who had not yet reached 30 and was just on holiday, a tourist, with a five year-old-baby was killed and her daughter was wounded on the highway…” said actress friend Mariangel Ruiz.

Stars and celebrities have voiced their horror, and President Maduro has again said fighting crime is his top priority. The Spear killing has galvanised opinion and could provide him with a big political problem as crime is now so chronic people are demanding action.